CLEVELAND (AP) — A judge handed down a 28-year prisonsentence Monday to a man convicted of
masterminding a $100 million,cross-country Navy veterans charity fraud.Judge Steven Gallimposed the sentence
on the defendant who identifies himself as67-year-old Bobby Thompson. Authorities say is Harvard-trained
attorneyJohn Donald Cody.The Ohio attorney general’s office, whichhandled his trial, asked the judge in a
filing last week to sentence himto 41 years in prison. In addition, the prosecution recommended a
$6.3million fine. Judge Steven Gall fined him $6 million.The defense has asked for a new
trial.Defenseattorney Joseph Patituce said after the verdict that ineffective legalrepresentation issues
stemming from limited preparation time and hisclient’s erratic cooperation might be a basis for an
appeal.Thedefense hinted at a CIA covert operation and showed jurors photos of thedefendant with President
George W. Bush, suggesting Thompson was actingwith government sanction.Thompson was convicted Nov. 14
ofracketeering, theft, money laundering and 12 counts of identity theft.The prosecutor showed jurors
identification cards with the defendant’sphoto but different names and issued by government agencies
andcompanies in numerous states.Thompson sat upright, taking notesduring much of his trial but turned
unpredictable in the final few days,appearing in court with his shirt unbuttoned to his waist and
uncombedhair hanging down his face.The judge, who expressed irritationwith Thompson over his appearance,
issued an order that Thompson be"dressed, groomed and showered" by 8 a.m. on trial days and
directeddeputies to bring him to court "by any means necessary."AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine’s
office plans to ask the judge to assign $330,778of the seized money to cover investigation and trial
costs.Theoffice also wants $650,871.30 for a default judgment order, with themoney going to veterans
charities, according to Dan Tierney, a DeWinespokesman.An additional $101,000 seized from Thompson has
already been distributed by Ohio to veterans charities.The onetime fugitive signaled he would testify at
trial but changed his mind.Thefraud occurred in 41 states, according to trial testimony, and Ohiotook the
lead, indicting Thompson in 2010. He disappeared for nearly twoyears and was arrested last year in Portland,
Ore.He was convicted of looting the United States Navy Veterans Association, a charity he ran in Tampa,
Fla.Onlya fraction of the $100 million was found. When Thompson was arrested,authorities found fake IDs and
a suitcase with $980,000 in cash.Records show the defendant had showered politicians, often Republicans,
with political donations.Politicianswho received donations from him, according to campaign finance
filings,include Bush and former presidential contenders Mitt Romney, JohnMcCain and Rudolph Giuliani.The
defendant was identified through military fingerprint records.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All
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